its more than double the price so by technicality it should have a better face...

Frankly I'd be pissed if they made this and it didn't look better, and I have no intentions of getting it. It's the principle of the thing, if it's going to cost more it should be better. That's why I don't import Transformers, the (usually) better paint doesn't justify the price jump since it's still the same toy otherwise.

The Samurai Stormtrooper is 100% Japanese influence. The regular trooper kind of looks like they thinned the helmet a bit, like it's sharper than it should be around the jaw. The pictures aren't the best but Luke looks like they got rid of Mark's face changes after the car accident. Those two points are me being super nitpicky and don't take away from how neat these look.

Don't care about the Samurai versions and the ST looks fine to me. I don't see anything different between what is in the movies and what the toy looks like. As for Luke's face, I guess, but it isn't like the Hasbro one looks like he has a messed up face either.

Don't care about the Samurai versions and the ST looks fine to me. I don't see anything different between what is in the movies and what the toy looks like. As for Luke's face, I guess, but it isn't like the Hasbro one looks like he has a messed up face either.

The Hasbro one doesn't even look like Mark Hamill at all, maybe a passing resemblance but no real likeness. That's why I only get aliens and characters in armor from the Hasbro 6" line. The only thing that I really notice about the Stormtrooper being off is that the jaw lining pipe round breathy things seem just a bit too abrupt. What I mean is they should be more smooth transitioning from the "ear" parts of the helmet to the jaw can things, and the SH one is just too little of that. The Stormtrooper is the only one that I'd say the Hasbro option is better because the Hasbro one already looks pretty much spot on to the film (though some have had minor paint app errors apparently) but mainly the Hasbro Stormtrooper is only $20 whereas the SH one is $47.

...The Hasbro one already looks pretty much spot on to the film (though some have had minor paint app errors apparently)...

Yep. My token Black Series Stormtrooper was disappointing in that regard, hence my interest in the new alternatives from Medicom and Figuarts. I love the Stormtrooper design, so am curious to see how each company addresses problems of articulation, and want to own the best one.

It appears that SH Figuarts is about to do for Star Wars what NECA has done for other licences at the same 6-inch to 7-inch scale, which is to take the bold step of trying to make the face of an action figure actually resemble the actor who plays a character in a given movie or TV show. IMHO, this seems like an important step forward for the industry, raising the overall standard for competitors in the collector niche for smaller-scale licensed action figures.

Why did it take so long for others to challenge the dominance of the 12" figure makers in this regard? The success enjoyed by a small number of companies like Hot Toys ought to be a great motivator. I suppose there are technical, software and creative limitations. Well, it's clear that those are being overcome, and I for one am VERY excited for upcoming releases!

Yep. My token Black Series Stormtrooper was disappointing in that regard, hence my interest in the new alternatives from Medicom and Figuarts. I love the Stormtrooper design, so am curious to see how each company addresses problems of articulation, and want to own the best one.

It appears that SH Figuarts is about to do for Star Wars what NECA has done for other licences at the same 6-inch to 7-inch scale, which is to take the bold step of trying to make the face of an action figure actually resemble the actor who plays a character in a given movie or TV show. IMHO, this seems like an important step forward for the industry, raising the overall standard for competitors in the collector niche for smaller-scale licensed action figures.

Why did it take so long for others to challenge the dominance of the 12" figure makers in this regard? The success enjoyed by a small number of companies like Hot Toys ought to be a great motivator. I suppose there are technical, software and creative limitations. Well, it's clear that those are being overcome, and I for one am VERY excited for upcoming releases!

I just wish the prices could be more competitive too. I know I've bitched about the price of these Japan imported toys before, but I dislike only being able to look at these toys online. Especially Darth Vader here, I already said how I enjoy Hasbro's trooper but while I'm overall happy with their Vader it left quite a bit to be desired compared to the trooper. If I gave the Black series Stormtrooper a 9/10 then Vader would only get a 7 or maybe an 8 if I'm being nice. The SH Vader looks like he should be much better overall (I admit I prefer the draped fabric cape to a plastic flowing one so points to Hasbro for that) but the SH price stings. If it were only like $30 then I'd be ordering one, alas my budget is committed to other stuff.